The chaotic banquet finally ended.

Because the matter of the tracking magician was settled, I felt refreshed again after taking off the bracelet and ate a huge meal.

After a cake-eating contest with Liam and Void, I left the party hall.

Of course, the winner was me.

While leaving the banquet hall, my brothers were each caught by people they knew from their academies.

Void was surrounded by boys who looked very mischievous.

Liam was surrounded by a very strict-looking academy research professor.

“Everyone’s busy, right?”

I spoke to Khalid.

We were sitting near the fountain by the building, waiting for the carriage.

‘Dad should be out soon... why isn’t he coming?’

I even went to the adults’ banquet hall to look for him, but Dad wasn’t there.

I thought about going to the Emperor’s room to see if Dad was still arguing, but I gave up.

The area was quiet.

Sir Leon had gone to prepare the carriage, and people were enjoying the party, not caring about a lonely fountain like this.

“Ruby.”

“Hm?”

Khalid was staring at me quietly.

“They said everything’s finished. They threw away all the pendants.”

“Oh? Yeah.”

“The Emperor told the magician to go back tomorrow right away.”

“I know...”

I turned my head slightly, pretending not to care.

“But why does your face look like that?”

Tsk. This ghost-like boy...

Actually, I was worried. If “the Fourth” was really the magician from the original story, then it would be right to go and deal with him immediately.

‘But something... doesn’t feel clear.’

Maybe it was because my memories weren’t exact. I didn’t have enough proof.

At that moment, water from the fountain splashed up loudly. My voice was buried under the cool sound.

“Khal, can you attach some animal friends to that magician?”

Khalid raised his handsome eyebrows slightly.

“Of course.”

For now, I would just watch.

‘Anyway, tonight I plan to use the herb.’

I thought about the transparent box I had already put in the carriage.

The Memorial Herb I got as a contest reward.

With that, I could peek at the original story’s next part and make everything clear.

We watched the cool fountain a little longer, waiting for the carriage.

Soon, Khalid pointed with his chin at someone walking from far away.

“Duke is coming. Then see you at the mansion.”

Khalid whispered shortly and walked off. He went to find his horse.

I stood up at the fountain and waved my arms.

“Daaaaad!”

“Ruby.”

By now it was dark night. Servants were running around, lighting the lamps.

‘Huh... Dad’s eyes look strange.’

I was a little surprised.

Was it because the lamps weren’t all lit yet?

They said he went to argue with the Emperor, but... Dad’s eyes looked scary.

‘No, maybe not?’

Was he just tired?

“Dad, are you sick?”

“I’m not sick. And you? They said something happened at the banquet.”

“Yeah. The magician man suddenly started handing out toys.”

At that moment, Dad’s lips hardened. His eyes looking at me were somehow strange.

I couldn’t tell exactly what was strange.

‘Why is he like that?’

Dad staring at me felt unfamiliar, so without thinking I reached out both my hands.

“Let’s go. The carriage is waiting.”

Dad took my hand and walked.

‘...Huh?’

What was this...

When I reached out both my hands, he always hugged me.

Did he fight with the Emperor? Or was he scolded for arguing too much?

Confused, I tilted my head. Dad’s hand holding mine felt a bit cold.

As soon as we got in the carriage, Dad habitually opened all the windows. This carriage had specially large windows made for me.

My motion sickness had gotten much better, but Dad always cared about my rides.

‘Come to think of it... I’m really a picky kid.’

I glanced sideways. Dad, with his chin resting on his hand by the window, was deep in thought.

The horses clattered and the night breeze blew gently.

‘Three wrinkles between his eyebrows...’

That wrinkle showed when he thought of something unpleasant or when he was angry.

His tightly clenched hand felt a bit damp.

I decided to stay as quiet as possible for my dad, who wasn’t in a good mood—even breathing and moving lightly.

Then suddenly the carriage wheel hit something and jolted hard.

“Ah!”

My body lifted up.

“Oh dear.”

Dad’s surprised face quickly caught my body.

“Your Grace, Lady. Are you alright? It’s night, I couldn’t avoid the stone.”

Sir Leon, riding a horse behind, spoke through the window. The driver shouted “I’m sorry!” from the front.

Dad just knocked on the wall in response.

“Ruby, are you okay? Come here...”

Dad frowned at me.

“Why are you stuck to the wall like that?”

I quickly straightened my back. My butt hurt a bit, but that wasn’t important.

“I like the wall. It’s really cool and hard like this...”

“What are you saying?”

Dad’s brows narrowed even more at my nonsense.

“Why are you so stiff... Ah.”

Then, as if he realized something, a long, low sigh came from Dad’s mouth.

“Sorry.”

“...”

“I was lost in thought too much.” 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“Come here.”

His big hand suddenly reached out and sat me on his lap.

I moved my fingers nervously.

“I’ll stay quiet. So you can keep thinking...”

Dad looked at me quietly and shook his head.

“No. Actually, there’s nothing more to think about. Did you hit yourself anywhere?”

His gentle voice, the same as usual, made my nose sting. His warm hand stroked my stiff back like he was calming me.

I hesitated for a moment and then asked bravely.

“What were you thinking about? Did you get worried?”

“Mm.”

Dad brushed my forehead.

“Actually, it was about you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Ruby, you... you didn’t know Asha Drucan from before, right?”

The air felt like it stopped.

“...Huh?”

I asked blankly.

Dad briefly explained what had happened in the Emperor’s office.

My expression froze in real time. Luckily, the inside of the carriage wasn’t bright.

‘Licht... he was half-awake then?’

So that’s why he wanted to talk to me like that.

‘Oh no...’

Finally, the puzzle pieces felt like they were coming together.

“After hearing the search results from the banquet hall, the prince said he had made a big mistake.”

Dad continued speaking.

“In the carriage his consciousness was blurry, and from the start your appearance and... that runaway magician didn’t match.”

Then a long sigh escaped.

“...Yes. It really wasn’t something to think more about.”

His tone sounded like he had been holding on to something pointless.

At that moment, street lights shone through the window.

At the same time, my eyes met Dad’s deep purple eyes staring straight at me.

I suddenly felt like I had to say something.

“I...”

My head was already a mess.

“I’m not... what you’re thinking.”

My lips moved mechanically.

“I know. Dad heard something useless and got his heart tangled up alone.”

Dad clicked his tongue shortly, smoothed my hair, and slightly closed the curtain.

I swallowed dryly.

“So... you felt bad?”

“Hm?”

“Because you thought... I was a magician.”

A short silence passed.

“Yes.”

My hands tightened.

“Even just imagining it... I hated it.”

Hearing his low voice, I squeezed my eyes shut. Dad thought I was trying to sleep and pulled a blanket over my back.

Pat, pat. That familiar hand ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) kept moving.

‘Dad doesn’t hate me. Get a grip.’

I told myself.

But the dark scene kept coming back in my mind.

Dad’s face, especially dark.

His hand’s cold temperature like a stranger.

The wrinkles on his forehead like he was angry.

‘I’m pathetic... I promised to tell everything honestly.’

The memory of being rejected by people is stronger than expected.

Even though I know Dad treasures me.

The dark past that pops up, shouting not to forget, is hard to ignore.

‘You know. At first everyone was kind.

But people are more fickle than you think,

and adults are mostly harsh to children.’

“Ruby, are you asleep?”

His low voice checked on me.

“...Tell Leon to drive the carriage slower.”

‘I don’t want to fail.

In this life, I don’t want to lose it.

The warmth of this hand.

My family.

I really don’t want to be alone anymore.’